Premiership - Boulahrouz joins Sevilla on loan
Chelsea have agreed to a loan deal for Khalid Boulahrouz to join
Sevilla for one year.
The 25-year-old Holland defender was brought to Stamford Bridge
last summer for around £7million from Hamburg but has been out of
favour and made just four appearances after the turn of the
year.
While Chelsea's squad travelled to America at the start of the week
as they step up their pre-season preparations, Boulahrouz stayed
behind while negotiations continued with the La Liga club who have
won the UEFA Cup in the past two years.
"Chelsea and Sevilla have reached an agreement for the one-year
loan," read a statement from the Premier League club.
Boulahrouz was expected to provide cover across the Chelsea defence
but manager Jose Mourinho often fielded Geremi or Lassana Diarra,
both midfielders by trade, at right-back.
Mourinho also has Glen Johnson returning from last season's loan at
Portsmouth to bolster numbers in defence, while Tal Ben Haim has
also arrived and Alex could join from PSV Eindhoven before the
start of the campaign.
In Ben Haim, Mourinho feels he has a versatile defender who could
"save his skin" over the coming season.
Injuries harmed the Blues as they surrendered the Premier League to
Manchester United last season, and Israel international Ben Haim
will offer extra cover next term after moving from Bolton on a free
transfer.
"We tried to have him last January because we were in big trouble
at the time but it was not possible," said Mourinho.
"He was an important player for Bolton and they wanted to keep him
until the end of the season.
"But now we have him and we have him because we like him. He's a
good central defender but also a good multi-functional
defender.
"He can play right-back and left-back in case we have the need and
during the season, so we're very happy to have him.
"I'm sure about his qualities but after three training sessions
together it's even easier to know the player and after six hours
training together I like him even more."
Mourinho believes his squad is in better shape than a year ago,
with only Michael Ballack staying in London to recover from surgery
and new signing Claudio Pizarro, of Peru, being given extra time
off following the Copa America.
"Last year was a disaster because we started the season with half a
team," he said. "And after that, every two to three days, some
players arrived depending on their performance at the World
Cup.
"We had players who were out in the last 16, out in the
quarter-finals and then finally the Portuguese and the French guys
because they had reached the semi-final stage. It was a
disaster.
"This season we are starting with everybody. Only Pizarro is not
here and Ballack with injury.
"Everybody here is working very hard, the motivation is there.
Everyone is training like they play, almost, with their attitude,
intensity, concentration and strength. The training is becoming
very real."